After the meeting concluded, Aria's father and uncle discreetly pulled her aside into a quiet corner of the palace.
"Alright, can you explain what's going on, daughter?" Ashter demanded, his tone both concerned and firm.
"Yes, Aria," Astrid added, crossing his arms. "Where did you two go, and who is this new woman? How did she suddenly become an Empress?"
Their expressions reflected their unease. They thought Aria might be too soft, allowing Aengus to do as he pleased.
"If this continues, won't your position as the primary wife be at risk?" Ashter asked bluntly.
Though Aengus had officially declared both women as Empresses, Ashter and Astrid remained skeptical. How could there be two equal Empresses in an Imperial Harem? Traditionally, there was always a single main wife, with others relegated to the rank of concubines.
Their skepticism and concern were evident as they awaited Aria's response.
Aria pressed her fingers against her forehead, feeling the onset of a headache.
Still, she explained calmly, "Father, Uncle, Ethan promised there would be no other women in our Imperial Family. You can cross out the idea of him having a typical harem. Bella is an exception."
She paused before continuing, "Bella saved his life during a moment of desperation when Beelzebub was devouring an entire city. From that point on, their paths intertwined, leading to their journey to the Demon World. Over time, they developed a romantic bond."
Ashter and Astrid exchanged astonished glances.
"Wait, what? The Demon World? How did they even get there?" Ashter asked in disbelief.
"Exactly," Astrid added. "How does this even make sense?"
Aria sighed but maintained her composure. "Because Bella is a demoness."
Both men froze, their eyes widening.
----
"So, hubby, ready for the journey?" Bella asked Aengus on the terrace of the palace.
"Yes. But you seem overly excited. Are you not worried, Bella?" Aengus asked gently, gazing down at the sprawling city below.
"Of course not. As long as I'm with you, I have nothing to worry about," Bella replied with a soft smile as she leaned closer, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.
Aengus allowed himself a brief smile before asking, "What if your mother refuses you and your father?"
Bella rested her chin on his shoulder, inhaling his masculine scent. "Then I'll try to convince her. If that doesn't work, I'll stay by your side anyway. She's my mother, but I have found a new family now. "
Aengus leaned against the railing, enjoying the comforting warmth of her embrace, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You're quite confident, Bella. I hope things go as smoothly as you believe."
"Yes, of course, hubby," Bella said, her voice filled with confidence. "With you, nothing is impossible."
"Okay, then," Aengus said, turning back and lightly kissing Bella's crimson lips. "Let's depart."
Bella, her excitement barely contained, watched as Aengus opened a shimmering portal to their destination: the Phoenix Empire. The Empire lay an impressive 400,000 miles away, but the portal would let them traverse the vast distance effortlessly.
This time, Aengus created the portal using his advanced mastery of Space Law. His comprehension had grown significantly, thanks to synthesizing the ten Law Crystals with his mind. This feat had elevated his understanding of Space Law to an impressive 10%.
Now, Aengus could manipulate spatial fabrics across hundreds of thousands of miles, with the precise locations of countless places firmly engraved in his mind within this vast radius.
It was an astonishing amount of progress. Should he reach 100% comprehension, he would be considered an elite even in the Primal Realm upon his return. By then, his physical strength would undoubtedly surpass that of many powerful figures in that higher plane.
"Whoosh!"
"We're coming, Mother."
Following behind Aengus, Bella's mind was filled with childhood memories with her mother.